The graphic video, which the group says was shot in October, shows workers at the Wiese Brothers Farm outside Green Bay, Wis., beating, dragging and whipping cows. Some of the cows, which appear unable to walk, are dragged by the neck using tractors. Other cows appear to have infected or freely bleeding wounds.

“Nestlé is outraged and deeply saddened by the mistreatment of animals shown in this video,” Deborah Cross, a representative for Nestle’s pizza division, told ABC News in a statement. Cross told ABC that Nestlé had notified Foremost Farms USA that it would not accept any more cheese "made with milk from the Wiese Brothers Farm.”

Foremost Farms USA released its own statement expressing extreme disappointment at the allegations of mistreatment and pledging to discontinue any business affiliations with the farm.

On its website, SliceofCruelty.com, Mercy for Animals quotes acclaimed animal welfare activist Dr. Temple Grandin as saying that the "dragging [of] live cows, and completely suspending them with the cow lift is severe animal abuse. The actions of these people went beyond rough handling and escalated to the level of cruelty. Kicking, beating, and hard whipping of downed cows is abusive."

Fellow Colorado State University animal science professors Dr. Bernard Rollin, Dr. Terry Engle and William Wailes also contributed a joint statement to the site, writing that after watching Mercy for Animal's footage, it was clear that the Weise Brother employees were "uncaring and sadistic individuals" guilty of " "horrifying and nightmarish abuses of dairy cattle."

"There's a culture of cruelty that was allowed to fester at this factory farm facility," Matt Rice, director of investigations at Mercy for Animals, told ABC News. "No socially responsible corporation should support dairy operations that beat, kick, mutilate and drag animals."

Capt. David Konrath of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department told NBC that his department had also opened its own investigation into the allegations and will inform the prosecutor if authorities believe charges are warranted.

UPDATE: Feb. 13 - The district attorney confirmed to The Huffington Post that four workers have since been charged with 11 total counts of animal cruelty.

Also on HuffPost:

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10 Worst States For Animal Abuse Laws

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List and captions courtesy of Animal Legal Defense Fund.

ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List
Felony provisions available only for cruelty and fighting against select animals
Inadequate felony provisions for neglect; none for abandonment
No provisions for sexual assault
Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care
No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
multiple animals
No provisions for veterinarians or other select non‐animal‐related agencies/professionals to
report suspected animal abuse
No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws
Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
Inadequate cost mitigation & recovery provisions for impounded animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals
Inadequate animal fighting provisions

ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List
No felony animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment provisions
Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care
No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
multiple animals
No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
No provisions for veterinarians or other select non‐animal‐related agencies/professionals to
report suspected animal abuse
No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws
Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
Inadequate cost mitigation & recovery provisions for impounded animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders
No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals
Inadequate animal fighting provisions

ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List
Ag gag law
Felony provisions available only for cruelty against select animals and fighting
Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care
No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
multiple animals
No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
No provisions for veterinarians or other select non‐animal‐related agencies/professionals to
report suspected animal abuse
No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws
Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
Inadequate cost mitigation & recovery provisions for impounded animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals
Inadequate animal fighting provisions

ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List
Ag gag law
No felony animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, or sexual assault provisions
Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care
No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
multiple animals
No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
No provisions for veterinarians or other select non‐animal‐related agencies/professionals to
report suspected animal abuse
No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws
Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authorityPage 18
Inadequate cost mitigation & recovery provisions for impounded animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders
No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals
Inadequate animal fighting provisions

ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List
Felony provisions available only for cruelty and fighting, both against only select animals
Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care
Principal protections apply only to select types of animals
No felony provisions for neglect or abandonment
No provisions for sexual assault
No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
multiple animals
No court‐ordered forfeiture provisions
Veterinarians are prohibited from reporting suspected cruelty or fighting
No provisions for select non‐animal‐related agencies/professionals to report suspected animal
abuse
No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws
Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
No cost mitigation & recovery provisions for impounded animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders
No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals
Inadequate animal fighting provisions